The Gale encyclopedia of cancer pdf

The GALE
ENCYCLOPEDIA
of
C
ancer
The GALE
ENCYCLOPEDIA
of
C
ancer
ELLEN THACKERY, EDITOR
A GUIDE TO CANCER AND ITS TREATMENTS
V OLUME
A-K
1
STAFF
Ellen Thackery, Project Editor
Christine B. Jeryan, Managing Editor
Donna Olendorf, Senior Editor
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Indexing provided by Synapse, the Knowledge Link
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The GALE
ENCYCLOPEDIA
of CANCER
Since this page cannot legibly accommodate all copyright notices, the
acknowledgments constitute an extension of the copyright notice.
While every effort has been made to ensure the reliability of the infor-
mation presented in this publication, the Gale Group neither guarantees
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expression, arrangement, and classification of the information.
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All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended.
Copyright © 2002
Gale Group
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All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in
part in any form.
ISBN 0-7876-5609-7 (set)
0-7876-5610-0 (Vol. 1)
0-7876-5611-9 (Vol. 2)
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The Gale encyclopedia of cancer / Ellen Thackery.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7876-5610-0 (v. 1) — ISBN 0-7876-5611-9 (v.2) — ISBN
0-7876-5609-7 (set : hardcover)
1. Cancer—Encyclopedias. 2. Oncology—Encyclopedias. I.
Thackery, Ellen, 1972-

RC254.5 .G353 2001
616.99’4’003—dc21
2001046015
Introduction
IX
Foreword XI
Advisory Board
XV
Contributors XVII
Illustrations of Body Systems XXI
Entries
Volume 1: A-K
1
Volume 2: L-Z 565
Appendices
Appendix I: National Cancer
Institute–Designated Comprehensive
Cancer Centers 1155
Appendix II: National Support Groups
1159
Appendix III: Government Agencies
and Research Groups 1163
General Index 1165
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
V
CONTENTS
The Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer is a medical refer-
ence product designed to inform and educate readers
about a wide variety of cancers, treatments, diagnostic
procedures, side effects, and cancer drugs. The Gale

Group believes the product to be comprehensive, but
not necessarily definitive. It is intended to supplement,
not replace, consultation with a physician or other
health care practitioner. While the Gale Group has
made substantial efforts to provide information that is
accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date, the Gale
Group makes no representations or warranties of any
kind, including without limitation, warranties of mer-
chantability or fitness for a particular purpose, nor does
it guarantee the accuracy, comprehensiveness, or timeli-
ness of the information contained in this product. Read-
ers should be aware that the universe of medical knowl-
edge is constantly growing and changing, and that dif-
ferences of medical opinion exist among authorities.
Readers are also advised to seek professional diagnosis
and treatment for any medical condition, and to discuss
information obtained from this book with their health
care provider.
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
VII
PLEASE READ—IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer: A Guide to Cancer
and Its Treatments is a unique and invaluable source of
information for anyone touched by cancer. This collec-
tion of over 450 entries provides in-depth coverage of
specific cancer types, diagnostic procedures, treatments,
cancer side effects, and cancer drugs. In addition, entries
have been included to facilitate understanding of com-
mon cancer-related concepts, such as cancer biology,
carcinogenesis, and cancer genetics, as well as cancer

issues such as clinical trials, home health care, fertility
issues, and cancer prevention.
This encyclopedia minimizes medical jargon and uses
language that laypersons can understand, while still pro-
viding thorough coverage that will benefit health science
students as well.
Entries follow a standardized format that provides
information at a glance. Rubrics include:
Cancer types Cancer drugs
Definition Definition
Description Purpose
Demographics Description
Causes and symptoms Recommended dosage
Diagnosis Precautions
Treatment team Side effects
Clinical staging, treatments, Interactions
and prognosis
Coping with cancer treatment
Clinical trials
Prevention
Special concerns
Resources
INCLUSION CRITERIA
A preliminary list of cancers and related topics was
compiled from a wide variety of sources, including pro-
fessional medical guides and textbooks, as well as con-
sumer guides and encyclopedias. The advisory board,
made up of medical doctors and oncology pharmacists,
evaluated the topics and made suggestions for inclusion.
Final selection of topics to include was made by the advi-

sory board in conjunction with the Gale editor.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS
The essays were compiled by experienced medical
writers, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and
other health care professionals. The advisors reviewed
the completed essays to ensure that they are appropriate,
up-to-date, and medically accurate.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
The Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer has been designed
with ready reference in mind.
• Straight alphabetical arrangement of topics allows
users to locate information quickly.
• Bold-faced terms within entries direct the reader to
related articles.
• Cross-references placed throughout the encyclopedia
direct readers from alternate names and related topics
to entries.
•A list of key terms is provided where appropriate to
define unfamiliar terms or concepts.
•A list of questions to ask the doctor is provided
whenever appropriate to help facilitate discussion
with the patient’s physician.
• The Resources section for non-drug entries directs
readers to additional sources of medical information
on a topic.
•Valuable contact information for organizations and
support groups is included with each cancer type entry.
Appendix II at the back of Volume II contains an exten-
sive list of organizations arranged in alphabetical order.
•A comprehensive general index guides readers to all

topics mentioned in the text.
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
IX
INTRODUCTION
•A note about drug entries:Drug entries are listed in
alphabetical order by common generic names. How-
ever, because many oncology drugs have more than
one common generic name, and because in many
cases, the brand name is also often used interchange-
ably with a generic name, drugs can be located in one
of three ways. The reader can: find the generic drug
name in alphabetical order, be directed to the entry
from an alternate name cross-reference, or use the
index to look up a brand name,which will direct the
reader to the equivalent generic name entry. If the
reader would like more information about oncology
drugs than these entries provide, the reader is encour-
aged to consult with a physician, pharmacist, or the
reader may find helpful any one of a number of books
about cancer drugs. Two that may be helpful are: D.
Solimando’s Drug Information Handbook for Oncol-
ogy, or R. Ellerby’s Quick Reference Handbook of
Oncology Drugs.
GRAPHICS
The Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer contains over 200
full-color illustrations, photos and tables. Eleven illustra-
tions of various body systems can be found in the front
matter of the book, and these can help the reader to
understand which cancers may affect which organs, and
how the various systems interact.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The editor would like to express appreciation to the
following medical professionals who reviewed several
entries within their areas of expertise for the Gale Ency-
clopedia of Cancer.
Linda Bressler, Pharm.D., B.C.O.P.
Clinical Associate Professor
College of Pharmacy
University of Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Susan M. Mockus, Ph.D
Scientific Consultant
Seattle, Washington
James H. Morse, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Division of Gastroenterology
University of Virginia Health Sciences Center
Charlottesville, Virginia
PHOTO ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
On the cover, clockwise from upper left:
Colored computed tomography (CT) scan of a human
brain. (Dept. of Clinical Radiology, Salisbury District
Hospital, Science Source/Photo Researchers. Repro-
duced by permission.)
Color digitized image of the herpes simplex virus.
(Custom Medical Stock Photo. Reproduced by permission.)
Colored CT scan revealing cancer of the liver.
(Dept. of Clinical Radiology, Salisbury District Hospital,
Science Source/Photo Reseachers. Reproduced by per-
mission.)

False-color bone scan of the spine and ribs showing
metastatic bone cancer of the spine.
(CNRI, Science Source/Photo Researchers. Reproduced
by permission.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
X
Introduction
Unfortunately, man must suffer disease. Some dis-
eases are totally reversible and can be effectively treated.
Moreover, some diseases with proper treatment have
been virtually annihilated, such as polio, rheumatic fever,
smallpox, and, to some extent, tuberculosis. Other dis-
eases seem to target one organ, such as the heart, and
there has been great progress in either fixing defects,
adding blood flow, or giving medications to strengthen
the diseased pump. Cancer, however, continues to frus-
trate even the cleverest of doctors or the most fastidious
of health conscious individuals. Why?
By its very nature, cancer is a survivor. It has only one
purpose: to proliferate. After all, that is the definition of
cancer: unregulated growth of cells that fail to heed the
message to stop growing. Normal cells go through a
cycle of division, aging, and then selection for death.
Cancer cells are able to circumvent this normal cycle,
and escape recognition to be eliminated.
There are many mechanisms that can contribute to this
unregulated cell growth. One of these mechanisms is
inheritance. Unfortunately, some individuals can be pro-
grammed for cancer due to inherited disorders in their
genetic makeup. In its simplest terms, one can inherit a

faulty gene or a missing gene whose role is to eliminate
damaged cells or to prevent imperfect cells from growing.
Without this natural braking system, the damaged cells
can divide and lead to more damaged cells with the same
abnormal genetic makeup as the parent cells. Given
enough time, and our inability to detect them, these
groups of cells can grow to a size that will cause discom-
fort or other symptoms.
Inherited genetics are obviously not the only source of
abnormalities in cells. Humans do not live in a sterile
world devoid of environmental attacks or pathogens.
Humans must work, and working environments can be
dangerous. Danger can come in the form of radiation,
chemicals, or fibers to which we may be chronically
exposed with or without our knowledge. Moreover, man
must eat, and if our food is contaminated with these envi-
ronmental hazards, or if we prepare our food in a way
that may change the chemical nature of the food to haz-
ardous molecules, then chronic exposure to these toxins
could damage cells. Finally, man is social. He has found
certain habits that are pleasing to him because they either
relax him or release his inhibitions. Such habits, includ-
ing smoking and alcohol consumption, can have a myri-
ad of influences on the genetic makeup of cells.
Why the emphasis on genes in the new century?
Because they are potentially the reason as well as the
answer for cancer. Genes regulate our micro- and
macrosopic events by eventually coding for proteins that
control our structure and function. If the above-mentioned
environmental events cause errors in those genes that con-

trol growth, then imperfect cells can start to take root. For
the majority of cases, a whole cascade of genetic events
must occur before a cell is able to outlive its normal pre-
decessors. This cascade of events could take years to
occur, in a silent, undetected manner until the telltale
signs and symptoms of advanced cancer are seen, includ-
ing pain, lack of appetite, cough, loss of blood, or the
detection of a lump. How did these cells get to this state
where they are now dictating the everyday physical, psy-
chological, and economic events for the person afflicted?
At this time, the sequence of genetic catastrophes is
much too complex to comprehend or summarize because,
it is only in the past year that we have even been able to
map what genes we have and where they are located in
our chromosomes. We have learned, however, that cancer
cells are equipped with a series of self-protection mecha-
nisms. Some of the altered genes are actually able to
express themselves more than in the normal situation.
These genes could then code for more growth factors for
the transforming cell, or they could make proteins that
could keep our own immune system from eliminating
these interlopers. Finally, these cells are chameleons: if
we treat them with drugs to try to kill them, they can
“change their colors” by mutation, and then be resistant to
the drugs that may have harmed them before.
Then what do we do for treatment? Man has always
had a fascination with grooming, and grooming involves
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XI
FOREWORD

removal—dirt, hair, and waste. The ultimate removal
involves cutting away the spoiled or imperfect portion.
An abnormal growth? Remove it by surgery make sure
the edges are clean. Unfortunately, the painful reality of
cancer surgery is that it is highly effective when per-
formed in the early stages of the disease. “Early stages of
the disease” implies that there is no spread, or, hopefully,
before there are symptoms. In the majority of cases,
however, surgery cannot eradicate all the disease because
the cancer is not only at the primary site of the lump, but
has spread to other organs. Cancer is not just a process of
growth, but also a metastasizing process that allows for
invasion and spread. The growing cells need nourishment
so they secrete proteins that allow for the growth of
blood vessels (angiogenesis); once the blood vessels are
established from other blood vessels, the tumor cells can
make proteins that will dissolve the imprisoning matrix
surrounding them. Once this matrix is dissolved, it is
only a matter of time before the cancer cells can migrate
to other places making the use of surgery fruitless.
Since cancer cells have a propensity to leave home
and pay a visit to other organs, therapies must be geared
to treat the whole body and not just the site of origin. The
problem with these chemotherapies is that they are not
selective and wreak havoc on tissues that are not affected
by the cancer. These therapies are not natural to the
human host, and result in nausea, loss of appetite,
fatigue, as well as a depletion in our cells that protect us
from infection and those that carry oxygen. Doctors who
prescribe such medications walk a fine line between

helping the patient (causing a “response” in the cancer by
making it smaller) or causing “toxicity” which, due to
effects on normal organs, causes the patient problems.
Although these drugs are far from perfect, we are fortu-
nate to have them because when they work, their results
can be remarkable.
But that’s the problem—“when they work.” We cannot
predict who is going to benefit from our therapies, and
doctors must inform the patient and his/her family about
countless studies that have been done to validate the use
of these potentially beneficial/potentially harmful agents.
Patients must suffer the frustration that oncologists have
because each individual afflicted with cancer is different,
and indeed, each cancer is different. This makes it virtual-
ly impossible to personalize an individual’s treatment
expectations and life expectancy. Cancer, after all, is a
very impersonal disease, and does not respect sex, race,
wealth, age, or any other “human” characteristics.
Cancer treatment is in search of “smart” options. Like
modern-day instruments of war, successful cancer treat-
ment will necessitate the construction of therapies that
can do three basic tasks: search out the enemy, recognize
the enemy, and kill the enemy without causing “friendly
fire.” The successful therapies of the future will involve
the use of “living components,” “manufactured compo-
nents,” or a combination of both. Living components,
white blood cells, will be educated to recognize where
the cancer is, and help our own immune system fight the
foreign cells. These lymphocytes can be educated to rec-
ognize signals on the cancer cell which make them

unique. Therapies in the future will be able to manufac-
ture molecules with these signature, unique signals
which are linked to other molecules specifically for
killing the cells. Only the cancer cells are eliminated in
this way, hopefully sparing the individual from toxicity.
Why use these unique signals as delivery mecha-
nisms? If they are unique and are important for growth of
the cancer cell, it makes sense to target them directly.
This describes the ambitious mission of gene therapy,
whose goal is to supplement a deficient, necessary genet-
ic pool or diminish the number of abnormally expressed
genes fortifying the cancer cells. If a protein is not being
made that slows the growth of cells, gene therapy would
theoretically supply the gene for this protein to replenish
it and cause the cells to slow down. If the cells can make
their own growth factors that sustain them selectively
over normal cells, then the goal is to block the production
of this growth factor. There is no doubt that gene therapy
is the wave of the future and is under intense investiga-
tion and scrutiny at present. The problem, however, is
that there is no way to tell when this future promise will
be fulfilled.
No book can describe the medical, psychological,
social, and economic burden of cancer, and if this is your
first confrontation with the enemy, you may find yourself
overwhelmed with its magnitude. Books are only part of
the solution. Newly enlisted recruits in this war must
seek proper counsel from educated physicians who will
inform the family and the patient of the risks and benefits
of a treatment course in a way that can be understood.

Advocacy groups of dedicated volunteers, many of
whom are cancer survivors, can guide and advise. The
most important component, however, is an intensely per-
sonal one. The afflicted individual must realize that
he/she is responsible for charting the course of his/her
disease, and this requires the above described knowledge
as well as great personal intuition. Cancer comes as a
series of shocks: the symptoms, the diagnosis, and the
treatment. These shocks can be followed by cautious
optimism or profound disappointment. Each one of these
shocks either reinforces or chips away at one’s resolve,
and how an individual reacts to these issues is as unique
as the cancer that is being dealt with.
While cancer is still life threatening, strides have been
made in the fight against the disease. Thirty years ago, a
young adult diagnosed with testicular cancer had few
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XII
Foreword
options for treatment that could result in cure. Now,
chemotherapy for good risk Stage II and III testicular can-
cer can result in a complete response of the tumor in 98%
of the cases and a durable response in 92%. Sixty years
ago, there were no regimens that could cause a complete
remission for a child diagnosed with leukemia; but now,
using combination chemotherapy, complete remissions
are possible in 96% of these cases. Progress has been
made, but more progress is needed. The first real triumph
in cancer care will be when cancer is no longer thought of
as a life-ending disease, but as a chronic disease whose

symptoms can be managed. Anyone who has been
touched by cancer or who has been involved in the fight
against it lives in hope that that day will arrive.
Helen A. Pass, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Pass is the Director of the Breast Care Center
at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XIII
Foreword
A. Richard Adrouny, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Oncology
Stanford University
Director of Medical Oncology
Community Hospital of Los Gatos-Saratoga
Los Gatos, California
Elise D. Cook, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Principal Investigator, Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer
Prevention Trial (SELECT)
Clinical Cancer Prevention
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas
Peter S. Edelstein, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S.
Chief Medical Officer and Vice President
Novasys Medical, Inc.
Sunnyvale, California
Chul-Hoon Kwon, Ph.D.
Professor
College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

St. John’s University
Jamaica, New York
Susan Miesfeldt, M.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Division of Hematology and Oncology
University of Virginia Health System
Charlottesville, Virginia
Ralph M. Myerson, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Medical College of Pennsylvania–Hahnemann
University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Helen A. Pass, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Director, Breast Care Center
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, Michigan
Trinh Pham, Pharm.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
University of Connecticut, School of Pharmacy
New Haven, Connecticut
J. Andrew Skirvin, Pharm.D., B.C.O.P.
Assistant Clinical Professor
College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions
St. John’s University
Jamaica, New York
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XV
ADVISORY BOARD
A number of experts in the medical community provided invaluable assistance in the formulation of this encyclopedia. The
advisory board performed a myriad of duties, from defining the scope of coverage to reviewing individual entries for accura-

cy and accessibility. The editor would like to express appreciation to them for their time and for their contributions.
Margaret Alic, Ph.D.
Science Writer
Eastsound, Washington
Lisa Andres, M.S., C.G.C.
Certified Genetic Counselor and
Medical Writer
San Jose, California
Racquel Baert, M.Sc.
Medical Writer
Winnipeg, Canada
Julia R. Barrett
Science Writer
Madison, Wisconsin
Nancy J. Beaulieu, RPh., B.C.O.P.
Oncology Pharmacist
New Haven, Connecticut
Linda K. Bennington, C.N.S., M.S.N.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Department of Nursing
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia
Kenneth J. Berniker, M.D.
Attending Physician
Emergency Department
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
Vallejo, California
Olga Bessmertny, Pharm.D.
Clinical Pharmacy Manager
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/

Bone Marrow Transplant
Children’s Hospital of New York
Columbia Presbyterian Medical
Center
New York, New York
Patricia L. Bounds, Ph.D.
Science Writer
Zürich, Switzerland
Cheryl Branche, M.D.
Retired General Practitioner
Jackson, Mississippi
Tamara Brown, R.N.
Medical Writer
Boston, Massachusetts
Diane M. Calabrese
Medical Sciences and Technology
Writer
Silver Spring, Maryland
Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, M.D.
Durham, North Carolina
Lata Cherath, Ph.D.
Science Writer
Franklin Park, New York
Lisa Christenson, Ph.D.
Science Writer
Hamden, Connecticut
Rhonda Cloos, R.N.
Medical Writer
Austin, Texas
David Cramer, M.D.

Medical Writer
Chicago, Illinois
Tish Davidson, A.M.
Medical Writer
Fremont, California
Dominic De Bellis, Ph.D.
Medical Writer/Editor
Mahopac, New York
Tiffani A. DeMarco, M.S.
Genetic Counselor
Cancer Control
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
Lori De Milto
Medical Writer
Sicklerville, New York
Stefanie B. N. Dugan, M.S.
Genetic Counselor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Janis O. Flores
Medical Writer
Sebastopol, California
Paula Ford-Martin
Medical Writer
Chaplin, Minnesota
Rebecca J. Frey, Ph.D.
Research and Administrative Associate
East Rock Institute
New Haven, Connecticut
Jill Granger, M.S.

Senior Research Associate
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
David E. Greenberg, M.D.
Medicine Resident
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Maureen Haggerty
Medical Writer
Ambler, Pennsylvania
Kevin Hwang, M.D.
Medical Writer
Morristown, New Jersey
Michelle L. Johnson, M.S., J.D.
Patent Attorney and Medical Writer
Portland, Oregon
Paul A. Johnson, Ed.M.
Medical Writer
San Diego, California
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XVII
CONTRIBUTORS
Cindy L. A. Jones, Ph.D.
Biomedical Writer
Sagescript Communications
Lakewood, Colorado
Crystal H. Kaczkowski, M.Sc.
Medical Writer
Montreal, Canada
David S. Kaminstein, M.D.

Medical Writer
Westchester, Pennsylvania
Beth Kapes
Medical Writer
Bay Village, Ohio
Bob Kirsch
Medical Writer
Ossining, New York
Melissa Knopper
Medical Writer
Chicago, Illinois
Monique Laberge, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Department of Biochemistry and
Biophysics
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jill S. Lasker
Medical Writer
Midlothian, Virginia
G. Victor Leipzig, Ph.D.
Biological Consultant
Huntington Beach, California
Lorraine Lica, Ph.D.
Medical Writer
San Diego, California
John T. Lohr, Ph.D.
Utah State University
Logan, Utah
Warren Maltzman, Ph.D.

Consultant, Molecular Pathology
Demarest, New Jersey
Richard A. McCartney M.D.
Fellow, American College of
Surgeons
Diplomat, American Board of
Surgery
Richland, Washington
Toni Rizzo
Medical Writer
Salt Lake City, Utah
Martha Floberg Robbins
Medical Writer
Evanston, Illinois
Richard Robinson
Medical Writer
Tucson, Arizona
Edward R. Rosick, D.O., M.P.H.,
M.S.
University Physician, Clinical
Assistant Professor
Student Health Services
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
Nancy Ross-Flanigan
Science Writer
Belleville, Michigan
Belinda Rowland, Ph.D.
Medical Writer
Voorheesville, New York

Andrea Ruskin, M.D.
Whittingham Cancer Center
Norwalk, Connecticut
Laura Ruth, Ph.D.
Medical, Science, & Technology
Writer
Los Angeles, California
Kausalya Santhanam, Ph.D.
Technical Writer
Branford, Connecticut
Marc Scanio
Doctoral Candidate in Chemistry
Stanford University
Stanford, California
Joan Schonbeck, R.N.
Medical Writer
Nursing
Massachusetts Department of
Mental Health
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Kristen Mahoney Shannon, M.S.,
C.G.C.
Genetic Counselor
Center for Cancer Risk Analysis
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts
Sally C. McFarlane-Parrott
Medical Writer
Mason, Michigan
Monica McGee, M.S.

Science Writer
Wilmington, North Carolina
Alison McTavish, M.Sc.
Medical Writer and Editor
Montreal, Quebec
Molly Metzler, R.N., B.S.N.
Registered Nurse, Medical Writer
Seaford, Delaware
Beverly G. Miller
MT(ASCP), Technical Writer
Charlotte, North Carolina
Mark A. Mitchell, M.D.
Medical Writer
Seattle, Washington
Laura J. Ninger
Medical Writer
Weehawken, New Jersey
Nancy J. Nordenson
Medical Writer
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Teresa G. Norris, R.N.
Medical Writer
Ute Park, New Mexico
Melinda Granger Oberleitner, R.N.,
D.N.S.
Acting Department Head and
Associate Professor
Department of Nursing
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana

J. Ricker Polsdorfer, M.D.
Medical Writer
Phoenix, Arizona
Elizabeth J. Pulcini, M.S.
Medical Writer
Phoenix, Arizona
Kulbir Rangi, D.O.
Medical Doctor and Writer
New York, New York
Esther Csapo Rastegari, Ed.M.,
R.N., B.S.N.
Registered Nurse, Medical Writer
Holbrook, Masachusetts
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XVIII
Contributors
Genevieve Slomski, Ph.D.
Medical Writer
New Britain, Connecticut
Anna Rovid Spickler, D.V.M.,
Ph.D.
Medical Writer
Salisbury, Maryland
Laura L. Stein, M.S.
Certified Genetic Counselor
Familial Cancer Program-
Department of Hematology/
Oncology
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical
Center

Lebanon, New Hampshire
Phyllis M. Stein, B.S., C.C.R.P.
Affiliate Coordinator
Grand Rapids Clinical Oncology
Program
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kurt Sternlof
Science Writer
New Rochelle, New York
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Barbara Wexler, M.P.H.
Medical Writer
Chatsworth, California
Wendy Wippel, M.Sc.
Medical Writer and Adjunct
Professor of Biology
Northwest Community College
Hernando, Mississippi
Debra Wood, R.N.
Medical Writer
Orlando, Florida
Kathleen D. Wright, R.N.
Medical Writer
Delmar, Delaware
Jon Zonderman
Medical Writer
Orange, California
Michael V. Zuck, Ph.D.
Writer
Boulder, Colorado

Deanna M. Swartout-Corbeil
Registered Nurse, Freelance Writer
Thompsons Station, Tennessee
Jane M. Taylor-Jones, M.S.
Research Associate
Donald W. Reynolds Department of
Geriatrics
University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas
Carol Turkington
Medical Writer
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Marianne Vahey, M.D.
Clinical Instructor
Medicine
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut
Malini Vashishtha, Ph.D.
Medical Writer
Irvine, California
Ellen S. Weber, M.S.N.
Medical Writer
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XIX
Contributors
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXI
Skeleton
HUMAN SKELETON and SKIN. Some cancers that affect the SKELETON are: Osteosarcoma; Ewing’s sarcoma; Fibrosarcoma

(can also be found in soft tissues like muscle, fat, connective tissues, etc.). Some cancers that affect tissue near bones:
Chondrosarcoma (affects joints near bones); Rhabdomyosarcoma (formed from cells of muscles attached to bones); Malig-
nant fibrous histiocytoma (common in soft tissues, rare in bones). SKIN CANCERS: Basal cell carcinoma; Melanoma; Merkel
cell carcinoma; Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; and Trichilemmal carcinoma. Precancerous skin condition: Bowen’s
disease. Lymphomas that affect the skin: Mycosis fungoides; Sézary syndrome. (Illustration provided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXII
Circulatory system
HUMAN CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. Some cancers of the blood cells are: Acute erythroblastic leukemia; Acute lymphocytic
leukemia; Acute myelocytic leukemia; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Chronic myelocytic leukemia; Hairy cell leukemia; and
Multiple myeloma. One condition associated with various cancers that affects blood is called Myelofibrosis. (Illustration pro-
vided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXIII
Nervous system
HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM. Some brain and central nervous system tumors are: Astrocytoma; Carcinomatous meningitis;
Central nervous system carcinoma; Central nervous system lymphoma; Chordoma; Choroid plexus tumors; Craniopharyn-
gioma; Ependymoma; Medulloblastoma; Meningioma; Oligodendroglioma; and Spinal axis tumors. One kind of noncancer-
ous growth in the brain: Acoustic neuroma. (Illustration provided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXIV
Lymphatic system
HUMAN LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.The lymphatic system and lymph nodes are shown here in pale green, the thymus in deep
blue, and one of the bones rich in bone marrow (the femur) is shown here in purple. Some cancers of the lymphatic system
are: Burkitt’s lymphoma; Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; Hodgkin’s disease; MALT lymphoma; Mantle cell lymphoma; Sézary
syndrome; and Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia. (Illustration provided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXV
Digestive system
HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. Organs and cancers of the digestive system include: Salivary glands (shown in turquoise):

Salivary gland tumors. Esophagus (shown in bright yellow): Esophageal cancer. Liver (shown in bright red): Bile duct cancer;
Liver cancer. Stomach (pale gray-blue): Stomach cancer. Gallbladder (bright orange against the red liver): Gallbladder cancer.
Colon (green): Colon cancer. Small intestine (purple): Small intestinal cancer; can have malignant tumors associated with
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Rectum (shown in pink, continuing the colon): Rectal cancer. Anus (dark blue): Anal cancer.
(Illustration provided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXVI
Head and neck
HEAD AND NECK.The pharynx, the passage that leads from the nostrils down through the neck is shown in orange.This pas-
sage is broken into several divisions.The area posterior to (behind) the nose is the nasopharynx.The area posterior to the
mouth is the oropharynx.The oropharynx leads into the laryngopharynx, which opens into the esophagus (still in orange)
and the larynx (shown in the large image in medium blue). Each of these regions may be affected by cancer, and the cancers
include: Nasopharyngeal cancer; Oropharyngeal cancer; Esophageal cancer; and Laryngeal cancer. Oral cancers can affect
the lips, gums, and tongue (pink). Referring to the smaller, inset picture of the salivary glands, salivary gland tumors can
affect the parotid glands (shown here in yellow), the submandibular glands (inset picture, turquoise), and the sublingual
glands (purple). (Illustration provided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXVII
Endocrine system
HUMAN ENDOCRINE SYSTEM.The glands and cancers of the endocrine system include: In the brain: the pituitary gland
shown in blue (pituitary tumors), the hypothalamus in pale green, and the pineal gland in bright yellow.Throughout the rest of
the body:Thyroid (shown in dark blue):Thyroid cancer. Parathyroid glands, four of them adjacent to the thyroid: Parathyroid
cancer.Thymus (green):Thymic cancer;Thymoma. Pancreas (turquoise): Pancreatic cancer, endocrine; Pancreatic cancer,
exocrine; Zollinger-Ellison syndrome tumors can be malignant and can be found in the pancreas. Adrenal glands (shown in
apricot, above the kidneys): Neuroblastoma often originates in these glands; Pheochromocytoma tumors are often found in
adrenal glands.Testes (in males, shown in yellow):Testicular cancer. Ovaries (in females, shown in dark blue in inset image):
Ovarian cancer. (Illustration provided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXVIII
Respiratory system

HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. Air is breathed in through nose or mouth, enters the pharynx, shown here in orange, and
passes through the larynx, shown here as a green tube with a ridged texture. (The smooth green tube shown is the esopha-
gus, which is posterior to the larynx and which is involved in digestion instead of breathing.) The air then passes into the tra-
chea (purple), a tube that divides into two tubes called bronchi. One bronchus passes into each lung, and continues to
branch within the lung.These branches are called bronchioles and each bronchiole leads to a tiny cluster of air sacs called
alveoli, where the exchange of gases occurs, so that the air and gases breathed in get diffused to the blood.The lungs (deep
blue) are spongy and have lobes and can be affected by Lung cancer, both the non-small cell and small-cell types. (Illustration
provided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXIX
Urinary system
HUMAN URINARY SYSTEM. Organs and cancers of the urinary system include: Kidneys (shown in purple): Kidney cancer;
Renal pelvis tumors;Wilms’ tumor. Ureters are shown in green. Bladder (blue-green): Bladder cancer.The kidneys, bladder, or
ureters can be affected by a cancer type called Transitional cell carcinoma. (Illustration provided by Argosy Publishing.)
GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CANCER
XXX
Female reproductive system
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. Organs and cancers of the female reproductive system include: Uterus, shown in red
with the uterine or Fallopian tubes: Endometrial cancer. Ovaries (blue): Ovarian cancer.Vagina (shown in pink with a yellow
interior or lining):Vaginal cancer. Breasts: Breast cancer; Paget’s disease of the breast. Shown in detailed inset only in
turquoise, Cervix: Cervical cancer. (Illustration provided by Argosy Publishing.)